SINGAPORE: Being both an animal lover and art pupil, Chang Leya decided to gather some fellow students for a project that would draw on their skills for a good cause.
Her team of at least nine Bukit Panjang Government High School students came up with the idea to raise funds by selling DIY crocheted animal keychains and notebooks with animal drawings.
“People love to buy pets on impulse because they are cute, right?" said Leya, who is in Secondary 3.
"So it was (something like) 'You can buy this instead (of real pets)'.”
In April, the students set up a booth in collaboration with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) at their school canteen for about three days.
Their notebooks and customisable keychains were priced at S$6 and S$7.50 (US$4.50 and US$5.60) respectively.
By the end of the first day, the items were almost sold out, said Leya.
The students made crocheted animal keychains and coasters as part of an SPCA fundraiser. (Photo: Peh Zi Qi)
The students also designed notebooks with drawings of animals. (Photo: Peh Zi Qi)
The booth set up in the school in collaboration with SPCA. (Photo: Peh Zi Qi)
Team member Jazzlyn Tang said the main aim of their project was to raise awareness about animal cruelty.
"(People) might know about SPCA, but they might not know exactly what their cause is," she added.
Leya said it was "fun to advocate for a cause that we believe in and educate my fellow peers".
Leya, Jazzlyn and some of the others next took their products to an SPCA event in May.
This time, they upped the ante and made about 200 notebooks and keychains, selling them at S$7 and S$10 respectively.
In total, the students raised almost S$1,700 across both their school and SPCA events.
Students from Bukit Panjang Government High School with Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How during the SPCA event in May. (Photo: Peh Zi Qi)
The Bukit Panjang Government High School students are among SPCA’s 500 youth volunteers and fundraisers. These youths are aged between six and 24 years old, ranging from preschool to university students, said the organisation’s executive director Aarthi Sankar.
Students from nearly 60 schools conducted fundraisers in support of the SPCA in the last year or so, she added.
Each year, more than S$10,000 is raised by youths, with most of it going towards the SPCA's general operating costs, Ms Aarthi noted.
Some also choose to fundraise for specific areas such as upgrades to SPCA’s dog run and shelter.
“By involving youths in our programmes and fundraising activities, the SPCA aims to nurture a generation of advocates for animal welfare.
“These youths also serve as ambassadors who can raise awareness about animal abuse and the importance of treating animals with respect,” said Ms Aarthi.
“They have the potential to influence the attitudes and behaviours of their peers, creating a ripple effect that extends the reach of SPCA, helping us create a compassionate society where all animals are treated with respect.”
Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) student Quentin Wong is one of SPCA's advocates - though not exactly by choice.
His dog Toro was just a year old when it died in a car accident, prompting then 10-year-old Quentin to take up volunteering for the organisation.
Following Toro's tragedy, he decided to raise funds to upgrade SPCA's non-profit community animal clinic, through a gala dinner.
"I wanted his short but fruitful life to mean something," said Quentin, who is now in Secondary 3.
Quentin Wong with his late dog Toro. (Photo: Patricia Yuen)
Toro was a year old when it met with an accident. (Photo: Patricia Yuen)
With his mother's help, Quentin put together a video documenting his memories shared with Toro.
He also contributed S$1,000 towards the cause - and got a "huge shock" when the final amount raised was S$25,000.
“I didn’t expect it at all,” Quentin recalled. “I thought we would (raise) a maximum of about S$5,000."
He later continued his fundraising efforts for SPCA in other smaller ways - including by selling his mother’s shoes on online marketplace Carousell, which yielded about S$700.
For his efforts, SPCA presented him with a special award for his work as a youth ambassador.
To Quentin, fundraising complements the physical act of rolling up one's sleeves. It makes for more "well-rounded" assistance, he said, and serves the same simple goal: Allowing SPCA to do more to help the animals.
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Her team of at least nine Bukit Panjang Government High School students came up with the idea to raise funds by selling DIY crocheted animal keychains and notebooks with animal drawings.
“People love to buy pets on impulse because they are cute, right?" said Leya, who is in Secondary 3.
"So it was (something like) 'You can buy this instead (of real pets)'.”
In April, the students set up a booth in collaboration with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) at their school canteen for about three days.
Their notebooks and customisable keychains were priced at S$6 and S$7.50 (US$4.50 and US$5.60) respectively.
By the end of the first day, the items were almost sold out, said Leya.
The students made crocheted animal keychains and coasters as part of an SPCA fundraiser. (Photo: Peh Zi Qi)
The students also designed notebooks with drawings of animals. (Photo: Peh Zi Qi)
The booth set up in the school in collaboration with SPCA. (Photo: Peh Zi Qi)
Team member Jazzlyn Tang said the main aim of their project was to raise awareness about animal cruelty.
"(People) might know about SPCA, but they might not know exactly what their cause is," she added.
Leya said it was "fun to advocate for a cause that we believe in and educate my fellow peers".
Leya, Jazzlyn and some of the others next took their products to an SPCA event in May.
This time, they upped the ante and made about 200 notebooks and keychains, selling them at S$7 and S$10 respectively.
In total, the students raised almost S$1,700 across both their school and SPCA events.
Students from Bukit Panjang Government High School with Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How during the SPCA event in May. (Photo: Peh Zi Qi)
Related:
"A GENERATION OF ADVOCATES"
The Bukit Panjang Government High School students are among SPCA’s 500 youth volunteers and fundraisers. These youths are aged between six and 24 years old, ranging from preschool to university students, said the organisation’s executive director Aarthi Sankar.
Students from nearly 60 schools conducted fundraisers in support of the SPCA in the last year or so, she added.
Each year, more than S$10,000 is raised by youths, with most of it going towards the SPCA's general operating costs, Ms Aarthi noted.
Some also choose to fundraise for specific areas such as upgrades to SPCA’s dog run and shelter.
“By involving youths in our programmes and fundraising activities, the SPCA aims to nurture a generation of advocates for animal welfare.
“These youths also serve as ambassadors who can raise awareness about animal abuse and the importance of treating animals with respect,” said Ms Aarthi.
“They have the potential to influence the attitudes and behaviours of their peers, creating a ripple effect that extends the reach of SPCA, helping us create a compassionate society where all animals are treated with respect.”
Related:
Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) student Quentin Wong is one of SPCA's advocates - though not exactly by choice.
His dog Toro was just a year old when it died in a car accident, prompting then 10-year-old Quentin to take up volunteering for the organisation.
Following Toro's tragedy, he decided to raise funds to upgrade SPCA's non-profit community animal clinic, through a gala dinner.
"I wanted his short but fruitful life to mean something," said Quentin, who is now in Secondary 3.
Quentin Wong with his late dog Toro. (Photo: Patricia Yuen)
Toro was a year old when it met with an accident. (Photo: Patricia Yuen)
With his mother's help, Quentin put together a video documenting his memories shared with Toro.
He also contributed S$1,000 towards the cause - and got a "huge shock" when the final amount raised was S$25,000.
“I didn’t expect it at all,” Quentin recalled. “I thought we would (raise) a maximum of about S$5,000."
He later continued his fundraising efforts for SPCA in other smaller ways - including by selling his mother’s shoes on online marketplace Carousell, which yielded about S$700.
For his efforts, SPCA presented him with a special award for his work as a youth ambassador.
To Quentin, fundraising complements the physical act of rolling up one's sleeves. It makes for more "well-rounded" assistance, he said, and serves the same simple goal: Allowing SPCA to do more to help the animals.
Continue reading...